Andretti Sets Record

AUTO RACING

August 1, 1993

MARIO ANDRETTI stole the show Saturday in time trials for today's Marlboro 500, turning the fastest qualifying lap in motorsports history. Andretti, 53, took the pole position for the 500-mile IndyCar race with a lap of 234.275 mph on a virtually perfect day at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn. Andretti's effort knocked Newman-Haas Racing teammate Nigel Mansell's 233.462 out of the top spot and was considerably quicker than the 232.618 lap by Roberto Guerrero in 1992 at Indianapolis that had stood as the fastest official qualifying lap until Saturday. The record-smashing lap was not quite as quick as the hand-timed unofficial IndyCar closed-course record of 234.5 set by Jeff Andretti, the younger of Mario's two racing sons, during a test session on Feb. 23 at Texas World Speedway.

FORD EXECUTIVE STEPS DOWN

FORD MOTORSPORTS executive Michael Kranefuss, who guided the auto company's resurgence in racing, will retire from his position as director of Ford's Special Vehicle Operations. Kranefuss, who has been with the company for 25 years, will remain in his position until Nov. 1. His intention is to own an IndyCar team that will be ready to race by next season. ''I felt it was time to do something different,'' said Kranefuss, 55. ''I have two or three options, one of which is setting up my own team, and that is what I'm pursuing as my number one priority.''

Kranefuss said the team would be based in Detroit and that he hopes to bring at least one new, major sponsor into IndyCar racing. He does not yet have a driver set for next season, but his most likely choice is Robby Gordon, 24.